The Near Death Experience

So today Cricket and I learned a good lesson of the laws of gravity. First, you must know 4 things about my cat. #1 Her favorite spot in the house is the 20 ft high ledge of our loft (much to our dismay) #2 She likes to sleep in her favorite spot #3 She twitches (borderline seizes) in her sleep #4 We had her declawed-we never knew to what extent that would bite us in the tushie

So she was in her spot asleep, while I was on the computer. I guess she was not having a pleasant dream, because all of a sudden I saw a flash of white out of the corner of my eye. I looked over to where she had previously been sleeping, and saw only front paws (useless in this situation without claws) and terrified eyes, and then they too disappeared. I heard a few crashes down below on the piano, then silence. I ran downstairs, but couldn't find her, so called Jared (by then I was hysterical). I found her a few minutes later, slinking around like she had just been caught drinking out of Jared's cup of milk (her favorite means of rebellion). Luckily she seems to be fine, with the exception of a sore back leg. She is walking like she is old and has arthritis, and she is very hesitant to leave solid ground. Hopefully, she has learned her lesson for good. For me and Jared, this experience has renewed our faith in Sir Isaac Newton's theory that "What goes up, must come down". However, I think when we teach this to our kids, the object lesson will include an apple or at least a parachute!

On a happier note, I got a JOB!!!! I will be working in the Special Education Department at an elementary school in Fairfield, CT. I will be working in a "cutting edge" program for children with autism. I am really excited, but not so much looking forward to the 45 minute commute and the early mornings. However, I think this experience will compliment what I have been studying for the past couple of years.

Big News

Isaac ate a whole hot dog and plate of mac n cheese for lunch today!! He thought the hot dog tasted like bacon.


In other not so big news, my washing machine is broken. It is still under warranty, but can't be fixed for one week. . . wish me luck!!

We also have Isaac's dental appointment (consultation) for sept4. Hopefully we found a good dentist to take care of him, and these appointments can end. We will be discussing the option of capping his teeth. Isaac and I have talked about going to the dentist, so he knows it's coming. He told me he's okay, and doesn't need to go. Poor Kid. What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger right?! Keep Isaac in your prayers.

Not a whole lot new with Ainsley. Still has a cough, and is grumpy, but her voice is slowly returning. She can sit up pretty good. . . but really you can read all of that other stuff on my blog!

If you haven't, make sure you look at it. LOTS of new pictures! Now that I have been keeping my house a little cleaner, I have more time to do fun things, like scrapbooking, making bows, playing with the kids, and taking lots of pictures!!

song writer

This is Mom, not Janalie.
It is 10 pm, and I went upstairs to check on Orson and he's sitting in bed writing something. So I ask him what he's doing with the lights on at 10 pm and he says "writing a song". Then he says that he has songs running around in his head all the time but he never writes them down and decided to write this one down. Maybe we will have another song writer in the family Mike. OK, now I need to go to bed. Sure love you all!!!
MOM

Oh Boy!!

So, Jared and I just figured out that we live in Connecticut and it is not cheap to live here....we are not the sharpest crayons in the box. Everything is more expensive (rent, food, utilities, everything). At first we felt like we were rich, and that I didn't really need to work. We felt if I scheduled out my days (eat>exercise>clean>get out of the apartment>cook>clean>repeat the next day) we would be fine. I kinda looked for a job, and when I didn't find one immediately I gave up. Well, after crunching the numbers, we discovered we were WAY off! We have enough money to survive, but we have realized that is all we can do, survive with no money to spare. So in an effort to be able to come see all of you at Christmas, I am once again on a job search. I have a couple of interviews lined up this week at schools and daycares. Please think happy thoughts for me so we can come home for the holidays!!!!

Sunday School

My first lesson is over, and it went pretty good! I really enjoy the young men in the class (it's a class of all boys and there is supposed to be one girl). Now if Lindsey could send me some of her wit and Janalie some of her understanding of the gospel and scriptures, I would be the most awesome Sunday school teacher EVER!!

The Big 5-0

Well, Dad has made it to the top of the hill - hmm, I wonder what is on the other side. The celebration was terrific, but not without stress. I was sure your dad had figured out what was going on and was just playing along. Happily, he really was surprised!
Grandpa, Uncle Carl and Aunt, Julie, Adrienne; Uncle David and his family; Aunt Ruth, Rajae and Wade; Aunt Becky; Ron Mortensen and his wife; Peggy Dargy and two of her kids; Aunt VerRona with Anna; and Kerry Mortensen were all there to celebrate with Orson, Dad and me. We planned it at Grandpa's house in Mesa so that Dad could go to a surprise party for one of his friends for his childhood in Lehi. We arrived at Grandpa's about 5:30 and he and Orson were waiting for us in the driveway. Grandpa invited us in to visit "where it was cooler". When they all said "SURPRISE!" Dad's first reaction was one of confusion because they had the lights off and all he could see were a bunch of little kids and Uncle Carl standing across the room with his head lamp on taking pictures. Then as he looked around and saw everyone he started to smile. We had Sanoran beef, salad and cake for dinner, but the best part was the sharing of stories about when they were all kids. We laughed and ate until about 9pm and the Mortensen's went home. Grandpa's family had a slumber party at his house that night - it was fun to be together again. Aunt Ruth said it was first time we had been together just for fun since Grandma died. Dad and I talked about doing a family reunion next year just to get everybody together - we really need it!

Happy Girl

It's amazing how cheerful my kids are when they don't feel that good. Something I need to learn from them!!


Isaac is doing better, still has a pretty gross cough, but isn't as often. They didn't want him in nursery yesterday until his cough is gone (no not just me being paranoid!) He actually even asked to go to nursery a first! So we are making good progress.

Ainsley has started coughing, and has her grumpy moments, but still smiles!

Lindsey beat Jared!

To whom it may concern,

Let it be known that on this very day, at 9:30 p.m. (which is 8:30 in Texas, 7:30 in Idaho, 6:30 in Arizona and sometime tomorrow in Paraguay) on the 4th of August of the year 2007- I, Lindsey Wilkins Stokes beat Jared Ellis Stokes at the game of racquetball. The score was close, but please keep the big picture in mind- I WON!!!! Please feel free to join me in teasing Jared Ellis Stokes at any point in time.

Thank you for sharing this triumph with me,

Lindsey Wilkins Stokes

Kids SAY and DO the darndest things

I hear so MANY funny things from Isaac daily. He's a funny little boy, and has quite the imagination.

For instance today he wanted to make chocolate chip muffins. I told him I needed to look up the ingredients. He says "I know mom, 2 cups of eggs!"

Then while Isaac and I are making muffins, Ainsley grabbed a yogurt covered pretzel (I didn't think they were in her reach at all) and sucked of the yogurt!

THEN while I was cleaning Ainlsey up, I sent Isaac to wash his hands. While he was in there he found his vitamins and ate half of them. . . hopefully he is okay. I called poison control and they said he might get a stomach ache and to watch him, but they were iron free so he should be okay.

Boy oh boy!

Happy Birthday to You

I know this is a day late, and I have no excuses, but I wanted to say happy birthday to dad! So pretend that you got this YESTERDAY!!


Here are 10 things about him that I love:


10. He reads the newspaper daily, normally during breakfast.

9. He is one of the funniest guys I know.


8. He has one of my favorite laughs, one that I hope never to forget!

(He's not laughing here, but I am while looking at it!!)

7. Has always been supportive of his children, and has encouraged us to try new things.


6. He is one of the hardest workers I know, even when he's not at work he's at home working on something.

5. He is athletic and loves basketball, and I loved watching him play. . . shoot I used to think he was a famous basketball player! He is always out hiking, riding bikes. . . and dragging his kids with him :) I actually LOVE that now!!!



4. He loves mom



3. He is always striving to live the gospel, and helping his children do so.

2. He loves his family, and it shows.



1. He's just the best dad and grandpa that anyone could ask for!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! Wish I was there to make you a birthday cake (a big black one. . . because we know how old you are now!)

A Little Unsure

So I don't really know what I am doing, but Brooke keeps leaving threatening messages on my phone, so I thought I would give it a whirl.

Connecticut has treated us pretty well so far. Jared is loving his new job, as well as all of his co-workers. He is pretty busy though, and trying to learn everything seems a bit overwhelming right now! He has top notch work ethic though, so he will be JUST FINE!!! And I was just informed right now that he is getting so comfortable in his new surroundings that tomorrow he will be showing off his sun-deprived, yet bushly legs in a pair of shorts.
I have a pretty tight schedule as well. Seeing as the carless job search was not so fruitful, we have decided my new job titles will be nutritionist/cook, maid, exercise coordinator, wild cat tamer and practicer of the piano. I will also be signing up for a swim aerobics and/or photography class. I don't know how I do it all, can we say WONDERWOMAN?
Cricket is totally digging the new pad, especially now that we have stairs. Her new favorite thing to do (which freaks me out) is, when we come home, to be precariously perched on the ledge. She is really proud of her gravity defying triumph, though I don't think she realizes how high up she really is and how far she would plummet. She also is into biting these days, a habit we are trying to break. She doesn't walk behind me without nibbling a little on my calf- I guess my fault for wearing such tempting lotions.
Though we don't see alot of each other, we are having a jolly good time exploring the new "hood". Let's just say downtown Stamford is a hopping place to be, and people are REALLY different- they come in all flavors. Just the other day we ran into a colorful character meandering down the street wearing jeans, t-shirt, and you guessed it a CAPE and home- made tin foil SUPERHERO MASK! We would have never experienced such pleasures in Rexburg!

That is all for now, I will put up some pictures when we take some (and when I figure out how to). Love everyone

Blogging via email

I am busy at work and home and usually don't have a lot of time for blogging. One trick I have learned about Blogger is that you can create blog posts via email - which I am currently doing. You can set this up for your user account if you want.

I also use this feature on my blog. I also send pictures directly from my new phone, which is kind of neat. I have a picture of one of the roads I sometimes commute on that I posted this morning. Take a look.

http://mvmorten.blogspot.com/

We find ourselves apart

I have decided to start a family blog. Well it was Dad's idea really, but I decided to put it in motion. The idea here is that EVERYONE in the family writes updates WEEKLY. Daily if you want, but at least daily. By everyone I mean EVERYONE!!!

We all now live in different states, and yes we have telephones, but time is precious, and sometimes we don't have the time to sit and talk (not that I don't enjoy talking on the phone. . . I do it very well actually!!)

Try to load up pictures as often as possible. . . pictures are worth a thousand words! Also leave comments on what we all post.

I love ALL of you and hope that we can all make this work. It's hard being away from my dearest friends (that's you guys family), and this will make the miles seem not so long.